State officials on Wednesday unveiled the winner of a contest to pick a new license plate to benefit Minnesota state parks and trails.
Michelle Vesaas, a Coon Rapids artist, was the winner. Her design depicts a canoe on a lake and shows Minnesota's various seasons.
"My design was inspired by being in the outdoors in this beautiful state through all four seasons," Vesaas said in a prepared statement. "Even in the coldest days of winter, if you're dressed for it, there is incredible beauty to be found."
More than 30,000 online votes were cast for the three final designs.
"Generations of Minnesotans have enjoyed our extraordinary state parks and trails system," Lt. Gov. Tina Smith said in a prepared statement. "This new license plate allows Minnesotans to invest in the future of our parks and trails."
The cost of the plate starts at $60 that includes a $10 fee for the plate and a $50 contribution to benefit the ongoing maintenance of Minnesota state parks and trails. The plate also gives its users unlimited access to Minnesota state parks. The new license plate will be available this fall as part of the ongoing celebration of the 125th anniversary of Minnesota state parks and trails.
The new plate now makes nine "critical habitat" specialty plates that benefit the DNR. At the end of 2015, more than 185,000 such plates were on the road, about 30 percent of all specialty plates issued by the state.
Ricardo Lopez • 651-925-5044
(Photo credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
